Police chief condemns mob violence

Mob violence against police officers in Northern Ireland is being stoked up by individuals and social media, the chief constable said.

Forty roads were blocked on Monday night and a policewoman guarding the offices of death threat MP Naomi Long was lucky to escape uninjured after loyalists broke windows on her car and threw a petrol bomb inside.

Eight nights of violence have followed Belfast City Council's decision to reduce the number of days it flies the Union flag on City Hall. The cross-community Alliance Party has been targeted after it agreed to the measure.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Matt Baggott said: "This is a phenomena of mob violence which has been stoked up by individuals and the social media."

He said it was fortunate nobody had been killed or seriously injured on Monday night, and he praised police for doing a "magnificent" job.

A gang of 15 men tossed a petrol bomb into the police officer's unmarked vehicle after surrounding and smashing it outside the east Belfast offices of Alliance Party MP Ms Long. It was the worst incident in another night of sporadic violence in parts of east and south Belfast involving loyalists who took to the streets again in protest against a decision by Belfast City Council to restrict the flying of the Union flag at Belfast City Hall to a number of designated days.

Ms Long is under a death threat and said she has still not spoken to Prime Minister David Cameron. She told BBC Radio Ulster: "This is not loyalism, this is fascism and it needs to be brought to an end. This has taken on the dynamics of a pogrom against the Alliance party. This is not about for the flag or against the flag, this is about for the rule of law and democracy or against the rule of law and democracy."

Mr Baggott called for a period of reflection from politicians rather than recrimination. He said Monday's violence was intense at times but police had dealt ably with the challenge. Almost 40 arrests have been made so far.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers is to make a statement in the House of Commons about the escalating trouble. She said: "It is absolutely disgraceful, the attack on the police officer last night was totally unacceptable."

She said 27 police officers were injured last week and urged people to stop protesting. She added that the Prime Minister was following the "grave situation" very closely.